Duke Outlasts Cal, 3-2, in Top-15 Marathon Match

Sunday, October 11

Berkeley, Calif.

3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

Duke University

(10-3, 5-1)

Cal

(7-5, 1-3)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Final F
Duke	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	3
California	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2

Box Score (PDF)

Duke celebrates after shootout win at Cal

Photo by: Andrew Madsen/Cal Athletics

Duke Outlasts Cal, 3-2, in Top-15 Marathon Match

10/11/2026 7:20:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BERKELEY, Calif. – A top-15 ACC field hockey matchup between No. 3 Duke and No. 14 Cal went the distance Sunday afternoon, with the Blue Devils emerging victorious in the shootout to collect a 3-2 victory.

Junior Julia Boehringer and graduate student Alaina McVeigh were the Blue Devil goal scorers, with the pair notching their second markers of the weekend. Duke (10-3, 5-1 ACC) finished the game with a 21-3 advantage in shots and a 12-2 edge on corners over the Golden Bears (7-5, 1-4 ACC).

Defense was the story of the first 30 minutes with just four combined shots between the two teams. Duke and Cal found their offensive footing in a frenzied second half, one that featured four goals, a pair of ties and several momentum-swinging sequences.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The opening quarter featured fast paced, back-and-forth play as the teams moved the ball up-and-down the pitch. Duke created a pair of good scoring opportunities, but Cal goalkeeper Carine Van Weichen tallied saves to keep it a 0-0 game after 15 minutes.
Offense was just as limited in the second period with the teams combining for two shot attempts. The Blue Devils and Golden Bears each registered one shot on net, with both junior Kaiya Chepow and Van Weichen logging saves to keep the opposition off the board. At the half, Duke and Cal remained in a scoreless tie.
Duke upped the offensive intensity in the third, putting up seven shots during the period. The defense was equally as stout during quarter as they didn't allow an attempt. The Blue Devils' persistence paid off, breaking the deadlock with a goal in the 45th minute off the stick of McVeigh.
A stick takeaway by junior Callie Rogers just outside the offensive third knocked the ball into open space, with McVeigh there to collect it. The Landsdale, Pennsylvania, product dribbled a little closer inside the circle before drilling a cross-body backhand shot to give the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead heading into the fourth.
Cal didn't go quietly. The Golden Bears had a quick offensive burst, scoring two goals in four minutes to surge ahead, 2-1, with five minutes remaining in regulation.
Looking for the equalizer, Duke pulled Chepow for an extra attacker. The Blue Devils' gamble paid off. After generating a couple late set pieces and getting shots on goal, the Blue Devils earned a penalty stroke. Boehringer stepped to the dot and slotted her penalty stroke into the top-left corner of the net to level the score, 2-2, at 59:28 and ultimately send the contest into overtime.
After a scoreless overtime period, the teams headed to a shootout to decide the winner. Duke came out on top in the shootout (3-2), securing the conference triumph.

GAME NOTES:

Duke improves to 10-3 overall, 5-1 in ACC play and 4-2 against ranked opponents this season.
Pam Bustin posts her 198th win at Duke and 360th as a head coach.
The Blue Devils move to 12-0 all-time against California.
Duke tallies its 32nd 10-win season in program history and the 12th under Bustin.
The Blue Devils are now 3-3 in overtime games this season and 1-1 in shootouts.
California marks the eighth opponent in 2026 that Duke has held below five shots.
McVeigh registered her 51st career goal, moving her up to eighth all-time in program lore. She has 17 points this season on six goals and five assists.
Boehringer tallied a goal for the second straight game and owns three markers on the year. She is 2-for-2 on penalty strokes and currently has eight points (3g, 2a) in 2026.
Chepow improves to 10-3 in the cage this season.

UP NEXT:
Duke heads to the Bluegrass State for an Oct. 17 matchup against the 16th-ranked Louisville Cardinals. Action is slated for a 1 p.m. start, with the game streaming live on ACCNX.

#GoDuke